Bucks County native Dave Christian, 30, is participating in "Eco-Challenge," which airs on USA Network.

By LAURA NACHMAN
Courier Times
E-mail

Bucks County native Dave Christian, 30, is participating in "Eco-Challenge," which airs on USA Network April 21-24 at 8 p.m. The expedition race, which makes a triathlon seem like a walk in the park, takes place in New Zealand. "Eco-Challenge" is from the creator of "Survivor," Mark Burnett. Christian, an Upper Makefield native, is a U.S. Army Infantry paratrooper and the son of former congressional candidate Dave Christian and brother to Colleen, a former township supervisor.

PAPERBACK WRITER

KYW news anchor Larry Kane will chronicle his '60s experiences with the Beatles in a book to be published next fall. Kane, then a 21-year-old radio news director in Miami, was the only American journalist to travel with the band during their 1964 and 1965 North American tours. "People will be startled by my candor in this book," said Kane. "It was electrifying - the wildest ride I've ever taken." (More exciting than co-anchoring with Trina Robinson?) Kane also wrote the book "Larry Kane's Philadelphia."

BABY BOOM

WPVI medical reporter Anita Brikman and her husband Scott are the parents of a baby boy, Theodore Michael, born last Thursday. He joins brother Alec and sister Lilly. WCAU meteorologist Kathy Orr and her husband Peter are expecting their first child in late July. The baby will be a girl as long as the sonogram is more accurate than "Earthwatch."

BRIGHT LIGHT

WCAU president and general manager Dennis Bianchi was highlighted in the General Electric Annual Report this year. GE owns NBC.

THE FROG IS COMING

Temple University graduate Bob Saget is headlining "The WB on Tour," which visits the Electric Factory in Philadelphia on April 12. Saget, best known for his long running role on "Full House," currently stars in "Raising Dad," with fellow Delaware Valley native Kat Dennings. Other WB celebrities on hand will be Tangi Miller of "Felicity," J. August Richards of "Angel," and another Temple alum, Jason George of "Off Centre." There will also be musical performances by groups featured on the WB such as Course of Nature and Nappy Roots. Admission is free. Must be 21 or over to attend. It is part of a 10-city commercial, make that tour, for the network.

NEWS NOTES

The problem of suburban sprawl is examined on "Saving Pennsylvania" on WHYY, April 21 at 3 p.m. Good Day Philadelphia's new co-host Kerri Lee Halkett debuts Monday on WTXF at 7 a.m.

Laura appears on WBCB 1490 AM Monday and Friday at 8:45 a.m. Comment at [email protected].

Thursday, April 4, 2002